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. 2022 May 28;14(11):2194.
doi: 10.3390/polym14112194.

Carbon Fiber/PLA Recycled Composite

Salem Al Zahmi  1   2 , Saif Alhammadi  1 , Amged ElHassan  3 , Waleed Ahmed  4
Affiliations

Carbon Fiber/PLA Recycled Composite

Salem Al Zahmi et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Due exceptional properties such as its high-temperature resistance, mechanical characteristics, and relatively lower price, the demand for carbon fiber has been increasing over the past years. The widespread use of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers or plastics (CFRP) has attracted many industries. However, on the other hand, the increasing demand for carbon fibers has created a waste recycling problem that must be overcome. In this context, increasing plastic waste from the new 3D printing technology has been increased, contributing to a greater need for recycling efforts. This research aims to produce a recycled composite made from different carbon fiber leftover resources to reinforce the increasing waste of Polylactic acid (PLA) as a promising solution to the growing demand for both materials. Two types of leftover carbon fiber waste from domestic industries are handled: carbon fiber waste (CF) and carbon fiber-reinforced composite (CFRP). Two strategies are adopted to produce the recycled composite material, mixing PLA waste with CF one time and with CFRP the second time. The recycled composites are tested under tensile test conditions to investigate the impact of the waste carbon reinforcement on PLA properties. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is carried out on composites to study their thermal properties.

Keywords: carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites; mechanical treatment; pure carbon fiber; tensile strength.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical Structure of Polylactide Acid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Increasing Carbon Fiber demand over the Years [11].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Recycling Process from Virgin Carbon Fiber to CFRP.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The original shape of the samples (a) CFRP, (b) CF.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Samples after the cutting (a) CFRP, (b) CF.
Figure 6
Figure 6
High speed grinder.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Samples of (a) CFRP, (b) PLA, (c) CF, (d) twin-screw extruder.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Formation of PLA/CF composite.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Dimensions of the Specimen.
Figure 10
Figure 10
(a) Blanking machine, (b) Dumbbell shape samples after blanking.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Tensile testing machine with a sample.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Stress-strain curve for the recycled PLA and four recycled composites.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Elastic Modulus of the blends.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Yield strength for the samples.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Ultimate Tensile Strength.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Strain at the failure point.
Figure 17
Figure 17
(a) FITR spectra of CFRP and CF; (b) XRD spectra of CFRP and CF.
Figure 18
Figure 18
The TGA result for (a) CFRP (b) CF.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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